Meet Miracle Mile Champion #18: Maggie Lyons

The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and ½ Marathon is October 21st and we’re honored to be the event’s title beneficiary. As we countdown to the Marathon we’ll introduce you to our “mile champions.” These 26 special children and teens, each with a moving story to share, will be designated a mile along the event course. They will serve as patient ambassadors – to motivate participants and engage the entire community in this vital fundraising event. Each child will have a fundraising page for their mile and many of the miles will have corporate sponsors.

This week we introduce you to Maggie Lyons

Age: 11 Hometown: Pickerington Condition: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Eleven years ago, Maggie was born and developed normally until she hit nine months and her parents began to notice a change. Her growth rate was slowing, and she would often seem detached from her surroundings. At 14 months, Maggie slipped into her first Grand Mal seizure, which later led to her diagnosis of epilepsy. On top of that, Maggie received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, a form of autism, at age three.

As time passed, Maggie started receiving services through the Help Me Grow program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She began having more severe epileptic attacks and was diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, which includes developmental disabilities. This final diagnosis helped explain a lot of the symptoms that Maggie had experienced throughout her life.

While Maggie has a list of diagnoses, they barely slow her down. She is involved in Special Olympics where she runs track and is on the bowling team. Her family runs a few times a week and Maggie comes along in her wheelchair.

Look for Maggie’s Monkeys on your run, where friends, family, and supporters of Maggie will bring stuffed monkeys to show their spirit. Learn more and join Maggie’s Monkey’s Team.

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Donna Teach is Chief Marketing & Communication Officer at Nationwide Children's. Her job is to help the hospital feel "connected" – Connected to each other, connected to our patients and their families, referring physicians, the community and the world.